Holiday Reading Season is Here!
16 holiday-themed reads to ease your anxiety-riddled brain
Picture it: Sicily 1922. Holiday season 2017. The Christmas Prince comes out on Netflix. To my mind, this is the first mainstream made-for-TV Christmas movie. Sure, there was always the chaste Hallmark fare, where it’s rumored that (at the time) a kiss could only happen in the final scene, lest things escalate. But with The Christmas Prince, suddenly everyone I knew was watching Christmas movies, eagerly awaiting the addition of another Vanessa Hudgens in the Princess Switch series. (Ok, fine, that last part might have just been me.)
But it doesn’t feel like holiday books have gone mainstream in quite the same way. With fewer new releases than usual this fall—and stress levels at new highs—I’d like to make the case that NOW is the perfect time to try a holiday romance novel if you haven’t already. Much like their cinematic counterparts, there are different flavors: from sweet and chaste (Jenny Colgan and Jenny Bayliss) to incredibly spicy (Tessa Bailey and Christina Lauren), there’s something for everyone.
And I have 10 new releases and 6 backlist favorites for your consideration. Shall we?
Avid holiday readers: start here with the latest additions to the canon.
MOST WONDERFUL by
It’s here, it’s queer, it’s three romances for the price of one! This multi-POV romance follows the three Belvedere siblings, children of Hollywood legend Babs Belvedere, as they come home for the holidays, each carting a suitcase full romantic baggage. I got a sneak peek of this one earlier this year and laughed out loud and squealed with glee as I gobbled up the siblings’ antics.
MERRY EVER AFTER by Tessa Bailey
Attention span feeling frayed? How about a short story? This is part of a collection of spicy holiday stories from bestselling authors that are exclusive to Kindle Unlimited. I’m unsure how hooked I feel by the premise of a single mother working in a thrift shop who falls for a sexy farmer who can’t find jeans that fit, but in “the Michelangelo of dirty talk”1 we trust. If you like this one, there are others in the same collection from Ali Hazelwood, Alexis Daria, and more to keep you entertained through December.
ALL I WANT IS YOU by Fallon Ballard
If you’ve been here a while, you know I cannot resist the “one bed” trope, so this is calling to me! Two romance writers (and exes!) are trapped at a charming inn during the lead up to Christmas. But, in true romance fashion, there’s only one room left. Goodreads reviewers describe this as cute with light spice, which feels like a safe place to start for those newer to the genre.
KISS ME AT CHRISTMAS by Jenny Bayliss
Jenny Bayliss has made an entire career of Christmas novels. I read and enjoyed her debut—The Twelve Dates of Christmas—a few years back and wouldn’t hesitate to try another. In this one, a single mom of a college-aged daughter is spending Christmas solo and kicks off her holiday season with a wine-soaked one night stand. The only problem is, she’s then tasked to direct a Christmas pageant with the help of none other than her bedfellow. If you like British small town settings or are looking for something with a slightly older protagonist, this one could be for you.
THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR by Ally Carter
Not really a romance person? This one’s described as Knives Out with a holiday rom-com twist. Two rival authors are invited to a holiday party by a mysterious fan. But when their host disappears from a locked room, they’re unsure if she’s in danger or if this is a test, not to mention if the other is to blame. This sounds like loads of fun and is at the top of my holiday TBR.
HOW MY NEIGHBOR STOLE CHRISTMAS by Meghan Quinn
An enemies-to-lovers rom-com take on The Grinch that a top Goodreads reviews describes as “Imagine if Hart of Dixie was set in Whoville.” IDK, y’all, I’m kind of intrigued. Have you read this? Should I? Let’s discuss in the comments.
LOVE YOU A LATKE by Amanda Elliot
The past few years has also seen the rise of Hanukkah novels, and this reverse grumpy/sunshine (she’s grumpy; he’s chipper), fake dating romance sounds adorable! Abby is the only Jew in her small Vermont town and gets stuck planning the Hanukkah festival, until she discovers her café’s most annoying customer is also Jewish. He’ll help her, but only if she pretends to be his girlfriend, so he can assuage his overbearing parents.
THE MERRIEST MISTERS by Timothy Janovsky
I met Tim at a book event in Washington DC. While the rest of the audience scratched their heads when I said I’d F the Grinch in a game of F/Marry/Kill, he woo-ed. I think that’s deeply emblematic of his a million-jokes-per-minute writing style. In his latest, two newlyweds are already on the rocks when one wakes the other with a confession: “I think I killed someone.” That someone turns out to be Santa, and the quarreling husbands have to set aside their squabbles for a year to run Santa’s workshop.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM by Laurie Gilmore
There is a 100% chance I read this book after getting a bone-deep Xanax and a bath feeling from The Pumpkin Spice Café, the first book in the same series. This one follows Bennett (Jeanie’s brother), who falls for the owner of a Christmas tree farm while he’s visiting Dream Harbor. I really don’t need any more details. I’m sold.
[BONUS] A VERY MERRY 90’S CHRISTMAS by J.T. Kelliher
Have you ever thought “Twas the night before Christmas” could use more AC Slater? Then this illustrated gift book was made for you! I could see this being a really fun one to bring to an office (or book club) white elephant.
Want something with a better shot at your library hold arriving before Santa? How about an older release?
SNOWED IN by
This was my favorite holiday read last year! And it wasn’t just me, this became somewhat of a Kindle Unlimited sensation. The writing is hilarious, the small-town Irish setting is charming, and the spice was spicing! Megan dreads going home for the holidays after she left her hometown hero fiancee at the altar four years ago. When she runs into reformed high school bad boy Christian at a pub in Dublin, they hatch a plan to fake date to keep their families and the whole village off their backs.
ONE DAY IN DECEMBER by Josie Silver
This is the book that made me want to write a Christmas novel in the first place, the one that made me fall in love with the genre! READ THIS BOOK! (Sorry to yell.) Laurie spots a boy at bus stop just before Christmas and it’s love at first sight. Except… she’s on the bus and he’s not and they don’t exchange any information. Cut to: two years later she finds him again when her best friend introduces him as her new boyfriend at their Christmas party. Joy, heartbreak, big moves, and bigger feelings ensue over the next ten years as they come in and out of each other’s lives. Truly, one of my all time favorite books.
THE CHRISTMAS ORPHANS CLUB by Becca Freeman
Hello, it is illegal in all 50 states2 for me to write about Christmas novels without mentioning my own. (New here? I wrote a holiday friendmance that came out last year). My book follows a group of four friends who are each alone on Christmas for a different reason and have built a found family tradition of spending the holidays together having raucous adventures around NYC. When Finn announces he’s moving to LA, Hannah takes it upon herself to plan their BEST. CHRISTMAS. EVER. It would mean a lot to me if you’d check it out.
IN A HOLIDAZE by Christina Lauren
This is so zany and so fun and so sexy! Mae’s life is a mess, and on top of it, this is her last holiday at her beloved family cabin in Utah. When she makes a wish for the universe to show her what will make her happy, she lands in a time loop living the same day over and over, and finds herself falling for a family friend.
CHRISTMAS AT THE ISLAND HOTEL by Jenny Colgan
This book reminded me of an Elin Hilderbrand novel with it’s multi-POV narration and quaint island setting. Except this island is in Scotland, and it’s abuzz about the grand opening of a fancy new hotel. This book is technically the fourth in a series, but I read it as a standalone and didn’t feel lost at all.
LOVELIGHT FARMS by BK Borison
When Stella enters a social media contest to win a feature for her struggling Christmas tree farm, she pretends her best friend is actually her boyfriend to make things that much more picture perfect. When she wins, she has to keep up the ruse. A little sweet, a little spicy, with a fun influencer twist, this is a great place to start for newbies.
Your turn! Which other holiday books are on your radar this season and which of the above you’re most excited for? As always, may your library holds be maxed and your TBR toppling.
Becca
As she was dubbed by Entertainment Tonight.
I just assume? Disclaimer: I thought about it, but then ultimately did not go to law school.
Excited about this list! Thank you! Also, my recommendation is Season of Love by Helena Greer. Part one of the Carrigan Series and SO GOOD:
Thanks to her thriving art career, Miriam Blum finally has her decoupaged glitter ducks in a row—until devastating news forces her to a very unwanted family reunion. Her beloved great-aunt Cass has passed and left Miriam part-owner of Carrigan’s, her (ironically) Jewish-run Christmas tree farm.
But Miriam’s plans to sit shiva, avoid her parents, then put Carrigan’s in her rearview mirror are spoiled when she learns the business is at risk of going under. To have any chance at turning things around, she’ll need to work with the farm’s grumpy manager—as long as the attraction sparking between them doesn’t set all their trees on fire first.
Noelle Northwood wants Miriam Blum gone—even if her ingenious ideas and sensitive soul keep showing Noelle there’s more to Cass’s niece than meets the eye. But saving Carrigan’s requires trust, love, and risking it all—for the chance to make their wildest dreams come true.
I think my first foray into adult holiday reads were Elin Hildebrand's Winter Street series, which I always recommend.
My other suggest for a backlist would be some of Mary Kay Andrews' Christmas novels, I have really enjoyed them and look forward to them every year.
The final backlist I'd recommend is Marry Me Tomorrow by Carla Burgess. It was festive and funny and had one of my favorite tropes - fake dating.